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From: krvw@cert.sei.cmu.edu (Kenneth R. van Wyk)
Newsgroups: comp.virus
Subject: PC Virus report from U.K.
Message-ID: <0004.9007251734.AA25443@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: 25 Jul 90 15:35:01 GMT
Sender: Virus Discussion List <VIRUS-L@LEHIIBM1>
Lines: 34
Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu

CERT/CC received a report today that a magazine in Britain, PC Today,
had inadvertantly distributed some 40,000 PC floppy disks which
contained the "Disk Killer" virus.  We then contacted PC Today as well
as Ed Wilding, the editor of the Virus Bulletin publication in
Britain.  Both were able to confirm the report.  However, the virus, a
boot sector virus, had been partially overwritten during the
duplication process, and thereby made inoperable.  So, although the
copies were distributed, the disks apparently do not contain
functional viruses.

Again, the virus, as distributed, appears to be non-functional.

When PC Today learned of the infections, they recalled the disks and
notified the British press of the situation.

A spokesperson at PC Today said that they will be taking steps to
prevent this from happening again.  Specifically, they will be
scanning their master disks in house, as well as at the duplication
facilities, for known viruses.

For further information, contact PC Today at +44 625 87 8888.

Regards,

Ken

Kenneth R. van Wyk
Moderator VIRUS-L/comp.virus
Technical Coordinator, Computer Emergency Response Team
Software Engineering Institute
Carnegie Mellon University
krvw@SEI.CMU.EDU      (work)
ken@OLDALE.PGH.PA.US  (home)
(412) 268-7090  (CERT 24 hour hotline)